February 9 - Formation of the Confederate States America with
Jefferson
Davis as President.
April 12 - The Civil War begins, as
General Pierre Beauregard and his Confederates open fire on Fort
Sumter, in Charleston, South Carolina, armed with 50 cannons.
April 17 - Virginia formally withdraws from the Union. In the
weeks that follow, Tennessee, Arkansas, and North Carolina follow suit,
forming an 11 state Confederacy.
April 19 -
President Abraham Lincoln issues a "Proclamation of Blockade" against Southern
ports. Preventing the South from acquiring the ammunition, food, and
other vital supplies they need to fight against the North.
July 4 - Lincoln, in a speech to Congress, states: "This is
essentially a People's contest. On the side of the Union, it is a
struggle for maintaining in the world, that form, and substance of
government, whose leading object is, to elevate the condition of men. .
. . to afford all, an unfettered start, and a fair chance, in the race
of life." Congress authorizes a call for 500,000 men to fight for the
Union Army.
July 21 -
General Thomas J. Jackson is nicknamed "Stonewall" due to his
continued resistance to Union Army attacks. The Union Army under
General Irvin McDowell is defeated at Bull Run, and retreats to
Washington.
July 27 - Following McDowell's defeat,
George B.
McClellan is appointed as Commander of the Department of the
Potomac.
September 11 -
General
John C. Frémont's unauthorized military proclamation of emancipation
in Missouri is revoked by President Lincoln, who also relieves him of
command. He is replaced by
General David Hunter.
November 1 - General-in-Chief of all Union Forces,
Winfield
Scott resigns, and he is replaced by George B. McClellan.
November 8 - President Lincoln narrowly avoids war with the
English when he allows the release of two Confederate Officials who had
been captured by the U.S. Navy on their way to England, while enforcing
the blockade.
